Lap-board.



Pafimed D66. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. L $70M. LAP BUARD.

APPUCATION FILED SEPLZS. 1916.

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LAP BOARD.

Patented; Dec. 3, 1918.

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ti Minn sraarns rirrnnnr JAMES STONE, or LA cnossn, isconsin.

Liar-Bonnie.

Specification of Lettersl'fatent. Patented Dee.,3,t9l8.

Application filed Septemberw, i916. SerialNmlZfiflfil. i

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that l, JAMES STQNE, a citi-fl zen of the United States, resldlng at La Crosse, in thecounty of La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lap'Boards, of' which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto a lap-board of that type which may be folded or: rolled up into a compact article when not in use, and unfolded and held distended andfiat when muse. i p

My prior Patent No. 1,106,901, granted August 11, 1914, shows a Iap b ard of the class referred to, and it is among the objects of? my present invention to improve in par ticular the type of means employed for holding the board distendedand flat when in use.

The invention consistsfurther in the matter hereinafter described andmorepartlcularly pointed outin the appended claims.

Inthe accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is'a bottom plan viewcfalap-l board embodying the features. of my inven tion. and showing the dlstendmg or extension bars collapsed or nested, preparatory to either being swung into positions for holding the board flat and distended or rolling the same p iniola Compact article fQIlJlfinsportation or storage; 1

Fig. 2 is a similarplanview of saidboard;

and showing the extension bars swunginto positions the other- Fig. 3 is a like plan view of the board and showing the extension bars in the positions they occupyywhen holding the board (118,-:

tended and flat for use; i

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3; J

- Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view line5-5ofFig.3; M i

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line G -6 of Fig. 1;

taken on Fig. 7 is a view of theboard whenrolled up into a compact article for; either transportation or storage; 1.

Fig. Sis a perspective View of the free end oi one of the distending bars and. showing the locking tongue provided at the end of said bar;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the free end of one of the other distending bars and showing thelocking notch provided adjacent the end of such bar; and' Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one endbof transversely extendingq stitching to form a plurality of transversely prior to being engaged one with the intermediate metal strip and showingthe locking shoulder provided adjacent the end thereof. g i

As shown in the accompanyingdrawings,

lap-board embodyingthefeatures of my invention comprises a toldable bodyportion face Ofjtllfi. board when in use, to the lower layerlQatyspaced intervalsiby extending, parallel pockets, in which are inserted relatively flat, stitlenlng strips 13,

the latterfbeing preferablymade of a light materiah such as fiberboard .or vulcanized J fiber, inorder to. aidin reducing the weight i of thec'ompleted board to aminimum. The

pockets are preferably so formed as. towextend. across the board parallel to each other and to the endedges olsaid board, thereby permitting the board to be foldedorrolled up endwiseand thus producea folded article of] a length nogreaterthan the width of the board. Moreover, the formation of thepockets is such tl' attheupper layer 11 will be held flat and smoothwhen the board is distended and in use, thiszconstruction affording asmooth top surface, whlch makes the boardmoreavailable forf'use in the sewin room, for card playeraand the like.

r For holding the body portion 10 taut, flat,

and smooth, when theboard is distendedand in use, I providethe following eonstructioni .Extending across the board? at each end thereof iswa. stitl'eningmember 14, .l lflvhich is preferably made in theformof a stripof f sheet metal bent so as tohavevthe cross-sec i parallel lines lot tional shape, asbestshownin Figs. 5 and 6. i

Thus, each stifi'eningmember may be readily secured to thebody portion 10by'clamping the end marginal part thereofiin the channel 15 formedbetween the double flange 16 of said metal memberl l. (See Figs. 5 and i 6.) A Said member is is falso providedwith an outwardly projecting. longitudinalflange 17, Wl1lClL serves as a stitlening rib for such member. Located beneath theboard andat a pair of. distending or extensionbars 18, 19, the latter being prefereach end thereof is ably made of sheetmetal andchannel-shaped in cross-section, as bestshown in \F igs, 4, 5,?

6, 8, and 9, so that the bars of each pair may be nested and span the folded edge of the flange 16 0f the associated member 14, when said bars are collapsed or swung into the position shown in Fig. 1, preparatory to rolling up the board. As shown, the bar 19 of each pair is the outermost one, when the bars are nested. Each bar 18, 19 of each pair is pivotally connected at one end by a pivot pin to one end of the associated member 1 1. As illustrated, each bar 18, 19 is no longer than the width of the board, and when distended said bars are swung about their pivot pins into positions extending lengthwise of the board, with the free end portion of one bar overlapping and interfitting within the free end portion of the corresponding bar of the opposite pair, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 1. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the pivoted end of the bar is bifurcated to provide spaced. flanges 21, 21, which span the folded edge of the flange 16, the pivot pin 20 being inserted through such parts and the portion of the body 10 in the channel 15. (See Fig. 5.) Each bar is provided adjacent its pivoted end with a stop shoulder 22 adapted to contact with the folded edge of the flange 16 and thereby prevent the bar from being swung outward beyond its fully extended position, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to lock the free ends of the bars 18, 19 of one pair with the similar ends of the corresponding bars of the opposite pair,

when said bars are'extended for holding the body portion 10 of the board taut, flat, and smooth and, further, prevent such locked ends from being accidentally disconnected while the board is in use, I provide each bar of each pair with a locking member adapted to engage the locking member of the corresponding bar of the opposite pair when said bars are swung into their extended'positions. As shown in the drawings, one of the bars of each pair, preferably the bar 18, is provided adjacent its free end with an inclined locking notch 26 opening outwardly through the back or folded edge of said bar, while the other bar 19 of the same pair is provided at its free end with a locking tongue 27, adapted to extend into said locking notch when the bars are locked together. The bars 18, 19 of each pair are of such length that the free ends of the corresponding bars of the opposite pairs meet before the bars reach their fully extended positions, as shown in Fig. 2. Moreover, the locking notch 26 in each bar 18 is so arranged in relation to the length of the bar that the locking tongue 27 of the bar 19 of the opposite pair engages in said notch before the bars reach their fully extended positions. After the ends of the bars become interlocked, it is necessary to forcibly move the bars into their fully extended positions before such bars will act to hold the body portion 10 of the board taut and flat. Thus, the bars have the effect of being materially elongated and serve to place the body portion 10 under tension lengthwise and effect the holding of said body portion taut, fiat, and smooth, when the board is distended for use.

The stop shoulders 22, 22 prevent the bars, after being interlocked at their overlapping ends, from being swung beyond their fully extended positions, but, in order to prevent the interlocked ends of the bars from being accidentally disconnected, as would happen should he bars be swung inwardly, I provide, midway between the ends of the board, a metal strip 28, the latter extending fully across the board on the under side thereof and being secured thereto at intervals in its length, and having its ends concealed by a marginal flap 29 sewed over the side edges of said body portion 10. Said flap 29 also serves to close the open ends of the pockets in which the stiffening members 13 are inserted and, additionally, to provide a suitable finish or trimming for the sides of the board. Said metal strip 28 is provided with an outwardly projecting rib or flange 30, the ends of which terminate short of the ends of the strip 28. Said flange 30 not only serves as a stiffening rib, but also as part of the locking means to be now described. Each end of said flange 30 is undercut to provide a locking shoulder 31, as shown in Fig. 4, said shoulder serving to engage the inner edge of one of the bars, when interlocked, so as to prevent said bars from being accidentally moved inward and thus becoming disconnested.

To set up the board, the latter is unfolded and laid out fiatwise, as shown in Fig. 1, with its under side facing upwardly. At such time the extension bars 18, 19 occupy the positions shown in said figure. The bars are then swung outwardly into the positions shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the bars are moved until the locking tongue 27 on one engages the locking notch 26 on the other. At such time the bars are connected together and are forced outwardly toward the associated side margin of the board. The bars are made long enough so that when forced outwardly, after being connected together, they will place the body 10 under tension and hold the same taut and flat when moved into their fully extended positions, as shown in Fig. 3. The bars, being made channelshape in cross-section, interfit one within the other, as shown in said Fig. 8. When the bars have been interlocked and moved into their fully extended positions, the same ongage the locking members 31, 31 on the flange 30 and thus are held from being accidentally moved inward and disconnected one from the other. To collapse the board, the interlocked bars are raised or moved from engagement with the shoulders 31, 81

need ess and swung'into their positions overlapping one another and the folded edges of the flanges 16 of the end membersld, 14:, whereupon the boardmay be rolled up endwisein order to produce a compact article.

In order tohold the folded package in its rolled form, I provide a strainer tape may encircle the outside of the rolled pack age and its snap fasteners engage onewith the other, as shown 111 Fig. 7.= y p The intermedlate strip 28 may be secured to the body of the board in anysultable man her, but, as shown in Fig. 10, the flange 30 is provided with a plurality of 1011g1t-11Cl1- nally spaced, transverse holes or apertures 35, through which threads may be passed for sewing said strip to said board. i

Although I have shown. a and described herein in detail one form in which a device embodying the features of my invention may be made, yet it is to be of course understood that I may variously modify and change the details of construction and arrangement of the parts shown, wlthout departing from the, spirit or scope of my invention, and I do not want to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement of parts shown, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described,

comprising a foldable body portion, and two pairs of distending bars, one pair at each end of said body portion, the bars of each pair each having pivotal connection at one end with one end of said body portion, said bars when distended being swung into positions extending lengthwise of said body portion and each bar beingprovided with locking. means adapted to engage and interlock with the locking means on one of the bars of the opposite pair before said bars reach their fully extended positions.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a foldable body portion, a stiffening member secured to said body portion at each end thereof, two pairs of distending bars, one pair at each end of said body portion, the bars of each pair each having pivotal connection at one end with one end of the associated stiffening member, said bars when distended being swung into positions extendinglengthwise of said body portion and having their meeting ends interlocked with each other, and means on said body portion adapted to engage said bars for holding Said strap is provided the interlocked ends thereof from being accidentally disconnectedu: i

ing memberjsecuredto said body portion at 3. A; device 1 of the "character described, comprising a foldable body portion, a stiiiein each end thereof, andtwo pairs of distending bars, one pairat each end of said body portion, the barsof each pair each having pivotal connectionat oneend with one end of the associated stIfiemng member, sald bars when distended belng swung nto posltions extendinglengthwise of said body portion, and each bar being provided at its free end with a lockingineinber adapted to engage and interlockwith the locking member on one of thebars oftheoppositepair before saidbars reach their any extended positions! 45A. device of the character described,

comprising a foldable body portion, a stiiien-a ing membersecured to saidbody portion at each end thereof, two pairs of distending bars,one pairiat eachfend of said body portion, the bars of each pair each having pivotal connection at one end with one endof the associated stiflening member, said bars when distended beingswung into positions extending lengthwise of saidbody portion, each bar being provided at its free end with alocking member adapted to engage and interlock with thelocking member onone ofthe bars of theopposite pair, beforesaid bars reach their fully extended positions, and

interlocked ends thereof from being accidentally disconnected. i

5. A device of the character described, comprising a foldable body portion, and two pairs of distending bars, one pair at each end. of said body portion, thebars of each pair each having pivotal connection at one end with one end of the body portion, said bars when distended being swung into positions e'xtendinglengthwisc of said body portion, one bar of each pair being provided fastening members pm said body portion adapted to engage said bars for holding the t with a locking notch and the other bar of each pair being provided with a locking tongue adaptedto engage the locking notch in one of the bars of the oppositepair before i i said bars reach their fully extended positions.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a foldable body portion, a stifi'enint strip secured to said body portion at each end thereof, two pairs of distending bars, one pair at each end of said body portion, the bars of each pair each havingpivotal connection at one end with one end of the associated stiffening strip, said bars when distendedbeing swung into positions extending lengthwise of said body portion. one bar of each pair being provided with a locking notch and the other bar being provided with a locking tongue adapted to engage the looking notch on one of the bars of the opposite pair before said bars reach their fully extended positions, and means on the body portion adapted to engage said bars for holding the interlocked ends thereof from being acv cidentally disconnected.

extending alongside of their associated metal strip, said bars when distended being swung into positions extending lengthwise of said body portion with their free ends overlapping and fitting one within the other, one bar of each pair being provided with a locking notch and the other bar being provided with a locking tongue adapted to engage the locking notch in one of the bars of the opposite pair when said bars are distended, and fastening members on said body portion adapted to engage the overlapped ends of said bars for preventing the same from being accidentally disconnected.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a foldable body portion, a metal strip secured to said body portion at each end thereof, two pairs of distending bars, one pair at each end of said body portion, the bars of each pair each having pivotal connection at one end with one end of the associated metal strip; the bars of each pair being channel-shaped and adapted to nest one Within the other when said bars are swung toward each other into positions extending along the associated metal strip; the bars when distended being swung outward from each other into positions extending lengthwise of said body portion with their free ends overlapping and interfitting one within the other, one bar of each pair being provided with a locking notch and the other bar being provided with a locking tongue adapted to engage the locking notch in one of the bars of the opposite pair, when. said bars are distended, and a third metal strip secured to 5 said body portion intermediate the ends thereof and provided adjacent-each end with a locking shoulder adapted to be engaged. by said bars when extended.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing F Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

